The English subtitles provide the translation, stating, “I’m Earl Stewart. I’m sorry I don’t speak Spanish, that is the reason I can’t answer the red phone in your language. But many members of our team in all departments do speak Spanish.”

The fact that Spanish ads are now being aired on English-language TV has ignited a firestorm.

One WND reader who saw the commercial said, “The whole issue is that this is America and Spanish ads should not be running on English TV stations, period. We are not a bilingual country. Run them on the Spanish stations, no problem. But Spanish ads thrown in with English programming – he’s got [testicular fortitude] and so do the stations that allow them to run.”

The idea of making profits is fine, but America isn’t just about making money. There is a nationalistic pride that far outweighs “going for the gold.” In your case, your timing is terrible considering you decided to run the ads at a time when many Americans have had it with do-nothing lawmakers who want to disguise amnesty proposals for illegal immigrants as comprehensive immigration reform. I think the reason you have had such a negative reaction is because the ads can be construed by white, English-speaking Americans to mean you are either indifferent to their concerns or support the misguided argument that illegal immigrants should be extended the same legal rights as full-fledged citizens.

Earl, You really hit a nerve with this. I do not like you at all and feel you are very dishonest. I feel the only reason why you are doing this is to create more attention to your already massive EGO. You have hit new heights with your money-making agenda. You totally go against your countrymen and do something like this.

Stewart thrashed back at the above “anonymous” post by saying, “Anonymous? A person who criticizes me but is afraid to tell me his name, phone number or e-mail has no credibility. You are either afraid that your opinions won’t stand up to intelligent debate or you have a secret agenda to do me harm … such as a sales manager or salesman for a competing dealership. The KKK Klansman has a good reason for his anonymity … what’s yours?”

Stewart told WND he’s not marketing cars to illegal aliens, but rather U.S. Hispanic citizens who happen to make up a large percentage of residents in the local market.

He thinks critics are misinterpreting the spot as “Spanish commercial equals some guy that wants a bunch of illegal aliens.”

Stewart calls the ad innovation in advertising, as he was looking to get attention.

“Boy, did I ever get their attention!” he said. “Nobody else has ever done this to my knowledge.”

He says cost is also another reason why he’s on the English-language stations, spending just $350 per spot on top-rated NBC affiliate WPTV, compared to $5,000 on the Miami-based Spanish language stations covering all of South Florida.

Stewart claims only one West Palm Beach station, CBS affiliate WPEC, initially offered resistance to running the ad, but backed off after he threatened to publicize its opposition.

“They now totally deny any of this ever happened,” he said.

When the ad was first created earlier this summer, it comprised 100 percent of Stewart’s television campaign. He says it’s now 50 percent and that will drop to 25 percent by next week. But he maintains the Spanish spot “will be a staple in my arsenal. I’ve made a very dramatic impact. My business has been great, one of my best Augusts in terms of sales.”

Stewart says favorable comments are now flooding in, and outpace negative ones by a 10 to 1 margin.

“I have gone to worrying about whether this ad would harm my business to actually wondering if this may not be the most effective advertisement I ever ran,” he writes on his blog.

The ad campaign comes as another South Floridian, Tom McKenna of Stuart, claims he was forced out of his office he rented for seven years because he does not speak Spanish.